Three Ways to Increase Your Chances of Scoring a Killer Internship When graduation day comes you’ll finally have that hard-earned diploma, but in today’s competitive job market it won’t help you find a job unless you also have some real-life experience. The best way to gain this all-important experience is to apply for an internship while you’re still in school. Think about it; how can you expect to be hired directly into management with just a business administration degree? You need that degree along with compelling experience in the business world. Scoring a great internship is a lot like finding a regular job; it involves resumes and interviews. And just like finding a regular job, you need to give yourself a competitive edge that will help you get noticed in the sea of applicants.
Write a killer cover letter and resume Knowing how to put together an effective resume is a skill you’ll need all your life. You should work on your resume as meticulously at a term paper, keeping it simple and concise. Your college’s career center can help you in crafting a superb resume, and there are many excellent websites like www.myfreeresume.com. Your cover letter is where your personality and passion for what you do has its chance to shine through, but resist the urge to go overboard. A great cover letter should be tailored to the specific internship you are applying for. Keep it simple with no more than three short paragraphs, with each paragraph no more than two or three sentences.
Be creative in your search Don’t just look up job listings for internships on the internet. Ask your friends, family, acquaintances and teachers if they know about any opportunities. Conduct a poll on social media. Let a lot of people know you are looking and you’ll be surprised at how helpful those in your social circle can be. A well-advertised internship can have hundreds of applicants, but by searching around in unexpected places you can find that gem of an internship that can truly change your life.
Build your own internship For the more adventurous, you can even create your own internship with a company or nonprofit that you really care about. Don’t be afraid to cold call or even show up at the front desk. Make sure you’re extra prepared and know how you can specifically contribute through your hand-crafted internship; this may be the most challenging approach, but the potential rewards are the greatest.
If you’ve managed to build your own internship where there was none, just imagine what that can translate into with your long-term career goals. You might find that you can form your own career, and create a job for yourself within your specialized field. Finding an internship is just one of the first steps to a successful career, and these three tips are important along every stage of that career. It’s not just about obtaining that business administration degree; it’s about combining it with some creativity and innovation, along with a killer cover letter and resume. Photo Credit: drofilm1, UTHMag